Oklahoma City Thunder

Kevin Durant scored 27 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder are on the brink of the NBA Finals, beating the San Antonio Spurs 108-103 in Game 5 on Monday night and moving within a victory of a series knockout.

Back in 1999, while Prince was partying, the NBA played a 50 game strike-shortened season that ended with the San Antonio Spurs being crowned champions. That first title for the Spurs began their odd dynasty as they would win the NBA Finals in only odd number years (2003, ‘05, and ’07).

The first round of the NBA Playoffs has come to a close for the Western Conference, and the teams vying to make it into the conference finals are ready for battle. Let’s take a look at the Western Conference semifinal matchups to give you insight into who we think will come out on top.

When James Harden, the 2012 NBA Sixth Man of the Year was drafted by the Oklahoma City Thunder with the third overall pick at the 2009 NBA Draft, he could be considered almost clean shaven in comparison to how he appears now, rocking his celebrated buccaneer beard.